Joaquin Phoenix has pulled out of Todd Haynes' untitled gay romance film just five days before filming was set to begin in Mexico, Variety has confirmed.

Phoenix had developed the script for the detective romance starring Haynes and Jon Raymond. A source close to the production told Variety that the actor was getting "cold feet." Entire sets had been built in Guadalajara before Phoenix decided to pull out at the last minute.

Representatives for Haynes and Phoenix did not immediately respond to Variety's request for comment.

The film, produced by Killer Films and backed by sales agent MK2 Film, was dependent on Phoenix's casting and had already been sold to international distributors prior to production. Sources tell Variety that the project is in jeopardy, indicating that Phoenix's role cannot be recast. The crew is now unemployed and stakeholders in the film still need to be paid. Losses could be in the seven figures.